MA Financial Group, an ASX-listed diversified financial services firm with more than $8.4 billion AUM, has tapped a global asset management veteran to become its managing director and head of real estate partnerships.
Anthony Habis (pictured above) will join MA Financial Group’s asset management division in mid-June to further build on the firm’s global institutional investor relationship in the real estate sector, with a focus on the Middle East region.
Prior to the appointment, Habis worked at the Bank of New York Mellon, where he was managing director and global head of client coverage asset servicing. Based in New York, Habis had oversight of the firm’s client franchise across all investor segments.
Before that, he worked in Dubai as head of Middle East and Africa at BNY Mellon, where he led the firm’s growth across several markets and businesses. Habis also worked as managing director at Citi’s institutional client group and held a number of senior roles in the Middle East and Africa, including head of global office MENA, and head of private bank, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Andrew Martin, head of MA Asset Management, said the group is delighted to welcome Habis to the team.
Habis is “a proven leader and brings 26 years of experience in global capital origination and coverage, serving the investment needs of leading global investors,” Martin said. “[His] combined experience across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America will strengthen our capability and help accelerate our growth plans and ambitions for these important regions.”
Habis will work alongside Mike Pyke, MA’s head of institutional capital, and the firm’s investment teams to execute an institutional client strategy and bring the firm’s full suite of alternative asset capabilities to global investors.
Martin said the firm is particularly excited about Habis’ deep insights and senior relationships in the Middle East, where there is a growing appetite to invest in alternative assets and private market investments in Australia and globally.
“I am delighted to be joining MA Financial, a firm with a demonstrable track record in partnering with specialist operators to invest in globally aligned growth trends and sectors,” Habis said. “There is significant interest in MA’s capabilities in real estate and other alternative asset classes in the region.”
Habis’ appointment follows that of Alex Brgudac, who was hired by MA’s lending platform, non-bank MA Money, to build and execute the company’s strategy and drive further volume growth. In February, MA appointed Giles Boddy as its new chief financial officer.
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